Letter of Endorsement
> Read a Letter About Kurt's Coaching Skills
from Terry Hunefeld, CEO, By Referral Only, Inc.
Client Comments
“As a former Director and former Chief Financial Officer of Zandex, Inc., I had the great pleasure of working with Kurt Southam. During this time he greatly impressed me with his fabulous leadership. Personally, I feel a great closeness to Kurt simply because I know that I can trust him. His integrity is without blemish in my eyes. Today, I consider him a great friend and someone that I know that I can rely on for excellent advice on tough situations.”
David T. Murray
President
Murray Capital Management
“Kurt served as President of Zandex Health Care Corporation. He quickly gained the trust and respect of our executive team. His personal coaching made a positive difference in their leadership development. He introduced best leadership practices he observed from his experience in other industries that helped take Zandex to a higher level. We benefited from his training and organizational development tools and practices that translated into increased profits and stock value.”
Douglas L. Ramsay
CEO and Chairman
Zandex Inc.
“Kurt is a true master of business development and human communication. His easy-going style is complimented by his proven technique and broad knowledge base. Kurt helps you see the difficult things that you need to see about yourself and your organization without jeopardizing the respectful and trusting relationships that he builds with his friends and clients. Kurt embodies the rare combination of business skills and relationship skills that are so rare and yet so vital in today's business leaders.”
Curtis Bishop
Partner
Isthmus, Ltd.
“I have known and worked with Kurt for several years and admire his skills as a coach. Kurt’s broad business background and “quick study” capability give him an unusual breadth of knowledge and credibility.”
David H. Campbell, Ph.D.
Development Planning Associates
“I have seen Kurt effectively coach and develop corporate owners and senior level management and factory supervisors- teaching them to use basic human relations and group effectiveness skills.”
Marshall Winkle
Director Human Resources (Retired)
Ariel Corporation
President Board of Trustees Knox Community Hospital
"Kurt was a wonderful guide through my exploration of improving the personal and professional relationships in my life. He related his own stories which helped me feel comfortable sharing my challenges. His insight was very valuable as I began to increase my awareness of how I impact the results of conversation / dialogue - positively and negatively. Kurt's passion and commitment towards helping people be more effective is very apparent. Thank you for passing it on".
Kris Crowell
Harley-Davidson Motor Company
"Kurt Southam is a Level 5 Leader! He has been a master coach to my company and me personally for the last 10 years. He has been able to help me keep focused on my goals and achieving those goals. There have been no hidden agendas when working with Kurt. He has been the consummate professional. He has coached and inspired the people in my organization to be the best that they could be. Most of all Kurt has coached the best out of me. He has asked questions so that I could find my own answers.
Kurt has coached me through three of the toughest transitional periods that I have experienced, both in my business and my personal life. His coaching has helped me accelerate the planning and execution of my company and personal goals. Kurt's sense of humor and matter of fact manner have been refreshing but always professional. Kurt has provided me with unconditional support and encouragement and is one of my biggest cheerleaders, not only when I have succeeded but also when I have failed. I would recommend him as one who listens for understanding and challenges to action. Steve Leavitt is a better person because of my association with Kurt Southam."
Steve Leavitt
EVP-COO Unishippers Inc
President - CEO Shipping Services Inc.
"It has been my privilege to spend many hours one-on-one with Kurt Southam as he coached me through his leadership development program. Without question I am a more confident and effective business leader as a result of the principles and skills he taught me. Kurt's unique ability to blend the academic with his extensive real-life experience as a business leader is invaluable. His advice is practical and it works. I also appreciate the fact that Kurt is always readily available-and prepared-to counsel with me on any management issue I am grappling with."
Craig A. Adkins
Executive Vice President/COO
Physicians Professional Management Corporation
"In the role of my executive coach, Kurt Southam quickly moved from consultant to trusted mentor, advisor and friend. He has been an objective sounding board during some of the most difficult personnel decisions of my career. My entire executive staff appreciated Kurt’s ability to teach principles and then facilitate discussion to help us apply those principles to our industry and our daily affairs."
Marc D, Halley
CEO
Ambulatory Management Services, Inc.
"Study and experience continue to reinforce the critical role of leadership in organizations. Subtle flaws in leadership style or competencies that tend to be passed off as "just human nature" can have a catastrophic effect on an organizations ability to succeed. Kurt Southam's executive coaching has been a key factor in my success as a leader and in the training and coaching I provide to others. Kurt combines extensive knowledge of organizational development with incredible insight into personal effectiveness. I have found that Kurt is able to help leaders identify and deal with the toughest issues they face as an individual or an organization (including accountability for their own actions). I continue to value Kurt as an executive coach as I work to provide the best possible service to clients and in the development of my own career."
John Baker, SPHR
Director of Consulting
Sequent
"Having worked with Kurt Southam, I can honestly say that I know more about myself than ever before. He has helped me unmask and develop my weaknesses into strengths that will certainly help me in my role."
Curtis C. Chastain, MD, FACP
President
Lake Primary Care Physicians Network
"Kurt Southam has an unusual ability to establish trust. He listens carefully to be sure he understands both you and the issue before he responds. When he responds, his words are helpful and welcome because of the trust relationship he has cultivated. Kurt is insightful, and a pleasure to work with."
Nelson C. Meyer
CEO
Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio
Anonymous References
The following references or testimonials are from clients who wanted to share their view on the value of the coaching, but due to the personal or sensitive nature of the issues we were dealing with, preferred to remain anonymous.
“I took a very methodical and systemic approach in selecting an executive Coach. I reviewed the background of over 80 highly qualified executive coaches, and through a process of reference checks, interviews, etc, after several months I made the decision to work with Kurt D Southam. That has proven to be one of the best decisions of my life. He is the best! His experience in dealing with tough issues is incredible. Every time I seek his counsel, he knows just what to do, and when I do it, it works out great! Our company has enjoyed the best financial results in its history since Kurt began (and is still) working with us!”
“We had another key executive who attended the Harvard Executive Development program to hone her leadership and management skills. I believe that (client who worked with Southam Consulting) benefited more from working with you and has learned more practical leadership skills in three months, than she learned from attending the Harvard program in six months! We will have additional opportunities for you in the future!”
“One of our physicians who is a key executive attended the Harvard Executive Development program to hone her leadership and management skills. I believe that Dr. ___(my client) benefited more from working with you and has learned more practical leadership skills in three months, than she learned from attending the Harvard program in six months! We will have additional opportunities for you in the future!” (Annonymous Hospital CEO)
“Just after three months of working with Kurt, I have been able to see new opportunities, address them and our results are exceeding what I thought possible in such a short time. Now when I work with my executive team we are far more effective and people contribute in more meaningful ways…all with the eye on results and contribution. Even my wife and friends notice that when I come home after a long day, I have more energy and am eager to tackle the next day!”
“I have learned more about the practical application of leadership in working with you as my personal coach, than through any other means. I record our coaching sessions and review them and find great nuggets of wisdom I am able to apply. During the past five months we have enjoyed the best financial results in our corporation’s history and this is a direct result of your coaching.”(Annonymous CEO)
"This has been the most important decision I have made in my life!"
"Kurt Southam is able to know just what to say or how to respond with just the right answer that in time proves to be the best course of action. He has an uncanny ability to come up with solutions that are right on target. He has the rare combination of strong academic credentials, extensive experience in executive positions including a corporate president and impressive consulting and coaching experience. He knows what he is talking about…not just read about it! He is very street smart."
"I recall one tough situation I had been wrestling with my executive team and we could not resolve it. Kurt understood the core issue and adeptly explained the difference between convergent problems and divergent problems and helped us resolve the issue on the spot. This is just one example of many valuable experiences and ah ha's I had working with Kurt."
"Kurt is multi-lingual. He can speak the language of the senior executive, understand the issues of the small business owner, and relate well to the front line employee. He is trusted by all who work with him."
"I should have terminated a vice president that had been with us for 20 years. I agonized over the decision and kept putting it off. Without the coaching and able help of Kurt, I don't think I could have done what I should have done a long time ago. Just as with other things Kurt predicted, he was right on this one and within a few weeks my executive team saw the value of this decision."
"At the beginning of one coaching session, I shared with Kurt a situation where a peer had done something to cause me to view him as less than admirable to say the least. I concluded that he was the villain and I was the innocent victim, or so I wanted to believe anyway. Through careful dialogue Kurt helped me see my role in the situation and helped me accept responsibility for certain actions. I eventually met with this peer and had a crucial conversation and our relationship is stronger than ever. Kurt Southam helped me work through the issue to resolution, and did not let me off the hook regarding personal accountability in the situation."
"I was wrestling with a tough decision of who should be my successor as CEO ($500,000,000 annual sales) with two key candidates. Kurt met with and assessed each of my key staff. He helped coach me through the important questions and considerations. Much was riding on this decision. Fortunately I went with his recommendation and this decision has proven to be the right way to go. Now two years later, this new CEO has performed admirably."
A Coaching Case Study
The following is a case study of an extended coaching relationship that included
the senior team.
Southam Consulting coached a CEO at intermittent times over a period of 12
years. The CEO expanded the coaching to include each of his direct reports.
We spent time every other week with each of the executive team in one-on-one
coaching. We were able to identify and resolve many issues to help each person
move to the next level of effectiveness. They appreciated the flexibility of
this tailored developmental approach. Each vice president asked to have the
coaching continue after the first six months. Some of those coached indicated
that this had a positive impact on their financial performance.